I had this little gem on my skincare stock drawer, just discretely standing there, waiting to be used and blow me away.
This serum is meant to help with reducing blackheads and blocked pores, and make the skin look smoother and clearer. It can be applied once a day, either morning or night.
Texture wise, this feels like a slightly sticky gel, and it is easy enough to spread on the skin. When I use it regularly (usually at night) I feel my skin becomes brighter and has a smoother appearance. I can definitely tell my skin has an improve and refined texture. It’s like a progressive, at home, face peel (which, to be honest, is kind of Dr. Dennis Gross specialty).
The ingredient list on this one is quite extensive, and I’m super happy about it because it’s like a superstar ingredients catwalk. We have:
- chemical exfoliants: mandelic acid, salicylic acid (a known superstar at combating acne), glycolic acid and lactic acid;
- soothing ingredients: prickly pear extract, white willow bark extract, bisabolol (part of chamomile, it’s also anti-inflammatory), cucumber extract and vitamin B5 – and if this wasn’t enough, there are also a bunch of antioxidants and humectants in this that are also skin soothing;
- antioxidants: green tea extract (also a soothing ingredient), quercetin (also anti-inflammatory), vitamin E, and rosemary leaf, raspberry, bladderwrack and vanilla extracts (again, all soothing ingredients as well);
- moisturisers/humectants: hyaluronic acid, urea, jojoba esters (skin soothing as well), and apple fruit extract;
- there is also retinol, the superstar ingredient that is good for acne but is better known for being the only wrinkle reverser out there.
Chemical exfoliants are mandatory for any pore-targeting product, and Dr Dennis Gross does not disappoint by including 4 of the most well researched, proven-to-work exfoliating acids. And since this serum has so many of these exfoliants, it absolutely makes sense that they would stuff it with a massive amount of soothing ingredients. This has everything it needs to work – and work well, with no undesired side effects. There is no denying the results: it only took me a week to see a major difference on my skin. The blackheads that take permanent residency on my nose are smaller, my whole face looks smoother, and there is a “fresh out of the aesthetician” glow to my skin that has my neighbours probably thinking I’ve gotten either rich or pregnant.
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Carnitine, Mandelic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Farnesol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Adipic Acid, Fomes Officinalis (Mushroom) Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Phytic Acid, Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract , Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Bisabolol, Pentasodium Pentetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hexylresorcinol, Quercetin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Panthenol, Urea, Jojoba Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Retinol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Hydroxide, Octoxynol-9, Isopropyl Jojobate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract, Rose Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander) Fruit/Leaf Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower/Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate.
I appreciate that the packaging is an opaque glass to prevent the light-sensitive ingredients from deteriorating. I have a 15 ml bottle but a 30ml one retails for about 76,80€. Not cheap at all, but honestly, this is one of those formulations that makes whatever time you dedicate to having a skincare regimen really worth it. And at this point in my life, time is very valuable. I will definitely be repurchasing.
